ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117....2C
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Cesarsky, C.
AA(ESO DIRECTOR GENERAL)
Abstract:
In early July, Finland joined ESO as the eleventh member state, following the completion of the formal accession procedure. Before this event, however, Finland and ESO had been in contact for a long time. Under an agreement with Sweden, Finnish astronomers had for quite a while enjoyed access to the SEST at La Silla. Finland had also been a very active participant in ESO’s educational activities since they began in 1993. It became clear, that science and technology, as well as education, were priority areas for the Finnish government.

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117....3M
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Mattila, K.; Tornikoski, M.; Tuominen, I.; Valtaoja, E.
AA(OBSERVATORY, UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI) AB(METSÄHOVI RADIO OBSERVATORY) AC(ASTRONOMY DIVISION, UNIVERSITY OF OULU) AD(TUORLA OBSERVATORY)
Abstract:
An overview is given of astronomical research in Finland. There are three institutes devoted to Astronomy in general, at the Universities of Helsinki, Oulu, and Turku, and a Radio Astronomy Observatory at the Helsinki University of Technology. In addition, Solar system research with space-borne instrumentation is being carried out by the Physics Departments at the Universities of Helsinki and Turku, and by the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
References:
Haikala, L., Harju, J., Mattila, K., Toriseva, M.,
2004, A&A, in press (astro-ph/0407608)
Hannikainen, D.C. et al., 2003, A&A 411, L415
Kontinen, S., Harju, J., Heikkilä, A., Haikala, L.,
2000, A&A 361, 704
Lehtinen, K., Haikala, L., Mattila, K., Lemke, D.,
2001, A&A 367, 311
Lehto, H. J. & Valtonen, M. J., 1996, ApJ 460, 207
Mattila, K., 1990, in IAU Symp. No. 139, The
Galactic and Extragalactic Background
Radiation, Eds. S. Bowyer and C. Leinert, p.
257
Poutanen, J. & Gierlinski, M., 2003, MNRAS,
343, 1301
Ramsay, G., Hakala, P. Cropper, M., 2002,
MNRAS, 332, L7
Salo, H. 1992, Nature 359, 619
Tuominen I., Berdyugina S. V., Korpi M. J., 2002,
Astron. Nachr., 323, 367
Wiegert, P. A., Innanen, K. A., Mikkola, S., 1997,
Nature 387, 685

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...11.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Is this newly discovered feeble point of light the long-sought bona-fide image of an exoplanet? A research paper [1] by an international team of astronomers [2] provides sound arguments in favour, but the definitive answer is now awaiting further observations.

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...12L
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Lagage, P. O.; Pel, J. W.; Authier, M.; Belorgey, J.; Claret, A.; Doucet, C.; Dubreuil, D.; Durand, G.; Elswijk, E.; Girardot, P.; Käufl, H. U.; Kroes, G.; Lortholary, M.; Lussignol, Y.; Marchesi, M.; Pantin, E.; Peletier, R.; Pirard, J.-F.; Pragt, J.; Rio, Y.; Schoenmaker, T.; Siebenmorgen, R.; Silber, A.; Smette, A.; Sterzik, M.; Veyssiere, C.
AA(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AB(KAPTEYN INSTITUTE, GRONINGEN UNIVERSITY, GRONINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS & ASTRON (NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY), DWINGELOO, THE NETHERLANDS) AC(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AD(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AE(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AF(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AG(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AH(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AI(ASTRON (NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY), DWINGELOO, THE NETHERLANDS) AJ(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AK(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AL(ASTRON (NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY), DWINGELOO, THE NETHERLANDS) AM(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AN(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AO(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AP(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AQ(KAPTEYN INSTITUTE, GRONINGEN UNIVERSITY, GRONINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS & ASTRON (NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY), DWINGELOO, THE NETHERLANDS) AR(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AS(ASTRON (NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY), DWINGELOO, THE NETHERLANDS) AT(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE) AU(ASTRON (NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY), DWINGELOO, THE NETHERLANDS) AV(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AW(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AX(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AY(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AZ(DSM/DAPNIA, CEA/SACLAY, SACLAY, FRANCE)
Abstract:
VISIR is the ESO-VLT instrument dedicated to observations through the two mid-infrared atmospheric windows (the so-called N and Q bands). VISIR was installed in April 2004 at the Cassegrain focus of Melipal, the third of the four 8.2 meter VLT unit telescopes; first light was obtained on May 1st. This cryogenic instrument combines imaging capabilities at the diffraction limit of the telescope (0.3 arcsec at 10 microns) over a field up to 51 arcsec, and long-slit (32 arcsec) grating spectroscopy capabilities with various spectral resolutions up to 25,000 at 10 microns and 12,500 at 20 microns. The instrument will be offered to the community for ESO period 75 (proposal due date: October 1st 2004 ).
References:
Ph. Galdemard et al. 2003, SPIE Vol. 4841, 129
P.O. Lagage et al. 2000, SPIE Vol. 4008, 1120
P.O. Lagage et al. 2003, SPIE Vol. 4841, 923
Y. Rio et al. 1998, SPIE Vol. 3354, 615
H. Zinnecker et al. 1996, Messenger 84, 18
ESO press release 13/04, May 2004

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...17B
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Bonnet, H.; Abuter, R.; Baker, A.; Bornemann, W.; Brown, A.; Castillo, R.; Conzelmann, R.; Damster, R.; Davies, R.; Delabre, B.; Donaldson, R.; Dumas, C.; Eisenhauer, F.; Elswijk, E.; Fedrigo, E.; Finger, G.; Gemperlein, H.; Genzel, R.; Gilbert, A.; Gillet, G.; Goldbrunner, A.; Horrobin, M.; Ter Horst, R.; Huber, S.; Hubin, N.; Iserlohe, C.; Kaufer, A.; Kissler-Patig, M.; Kragt, J.; Kroes, G.; Lehnert, M.; Lieb, W.; Liske, J.; Lizon, J.-L.; Lutz, D.; Modigliani, A.; Monnet, G.; N., Nicole; Patig, J.; Pragt, J.; Reunanen, J.; Röhrle, C.; Rossi, S.; Schmutzer, R.; Schoenmaker, T.; Schreiber, J.; Stroebele, S.; Szeifert, T.; Tacconi, L.; Tecza, M.; Thatte, N.; Tordo, S.; van der Werf, P.; Weisz, H.
AA(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AB(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) AC(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) AD(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) AE(LEIDEN OBSERVATORY, NOVA, THE NETHERLANDS) AF(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AG(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AH(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AI(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) AJ(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AK(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AL(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AM(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) AN(NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY) AO(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AP(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AQ(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) AR(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY & DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, UC BERKELEY, USA) AS(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) AT(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AU(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) AV(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) AW(NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY) AX(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) AY(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AZ(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY & MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) BA(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BB(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BC(NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY) BD(NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY) BE(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) BF(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) BG(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BH(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BI(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) BJ(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BK(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BL(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) BM(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BN(NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY) BO(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BP(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) BQ(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BR(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BS(NETHERLANDS FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY) BT(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY & MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR ASTRONOMIE, HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) BU(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BV(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) BW(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY) BX(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY & OXFORD UNIVERSITY, UK) BY(MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR EXTRATERRESTRISCHE PHYSIK, GARCHING, GERMANY & OXFORD UNIVERSITY, UK) BZ(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) CA(LEIDEN OBSERVATORY, NOVA, THE NETHERLANDS) CB(INGENIEURBÜRO WEISZ, MÜNCHEN, GERMANY)
Abstract:
SINFONI is an Adaptive Optics assisted cryogenic Near Infrared Spectrograph developed by ESO and MPE in collaboration with NOVA. It was successfully commissioned between June and August at the Cassegrain focus of VLT UT4 (Yepun). The instrument will be offered to the community from April 2005 onwards (period 75) and will provide a unique facility in the field of high spatial and spectral resolution studies of compact objects (star-forming regions, nuclei of galaxies, cosmologically distant galaxies, galactic centre etc.).
References:
H. Bonnet et al. 2003, SPIE 4839, 329
F. Eisenhauer et al. 2003, Proc. SPIE 4844, 1548
M. Tecza, et al. 2002, Proc. SPIE, 4842, 36
Davies et al. 1998, MNRAS, 293, 189
Davies et al. 2004, ApJ, 602, 148
Erb et al. 2004, accepted for publication ApJ
(astro-ph/0404235)
Genzel et al. 1995, ApJ, 444, 129
Genzel, R. et al. 2003a, ApJ 594, 812
Genzel, R. et al. 2003b, Nature 425, 934
Ghez, A. et al. 2003, ApJ 586, L127
Schödel, R. et al. 2002, Nature 594, 812
Steidel, C. C. et al. 2004, ApJ, 604, 534

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...25A
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Arsenault, R.; Donaldson, R.; Dupuy, C.; Fedrigo, E.; Hubin, N.; Ivanescu, L.; Kasper, M.; Oberti, S.; Paufique, J.; Rossi, S.; Silber, A.; Delabre, B.; Lizon, J.-L.; Gigan P.
AA(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AB(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AC(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AD(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AE(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AF(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AG(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AH(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AI(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AJ(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AK(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AL(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AM(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)) AN(LESIA, OBSERVATOIRE DE PARIS-MEUDON, FRANCE)
Abstract:
IN JULY of this year the MACAO team returned to Paranal for the third time to install another MACAOVLTI system. These are 4 identical 60 element curvature adaptive optics systems, located in the Coudé room of each UT whose aim is to feed a turbulence corrected wavefront to the VLTI Recombination Laboratory. This time the activities took place on Yepun (UT4). The naming convention has been to associate the MACAO-VLTI number to the UT number where it is installed. Therefore, although we speak here of MACAO#4, it is the third system installed in Paranal.
References:
R. Arsenault et al., 2002, SPIE proc. 4839, p.174
R. Arsenault et al., 2003, ESO Messenger 112, 7
R. Arsenault et al., 2004a, SPIE proc. 5490
R. Arsenault et al., 2004b, SPIE proc. 5490
M. Wittkowski, P. Kervella, R. Arsenault, 2004,
A&A 428, L39

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...27E
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Emerson, J. P.; Sutherland, W. J.; McPherson, A. M.; Craig, S. C.; Dalton, G. B.; Ward, A. K.
AA(ASTRONOMY UNIT, QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, UK) AB(INSTITUTE OF ASTRONOMY, CAMBRIDGE, UK) AC(UK ASTRONOMY TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, EDINBURGH, UK) AD(UK ASTRONOMY TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, EDINBURGH, UK) AE(RUTHERFORD APPLETON LABORATORY, CCLRC, DIDCOT, UK) AF(RUTHERFORD APPLETON LABORATORY, CCLRC, DIDCOT, UK)
Abstract:
Vista's 4-metre primary mirror and 1.65-degree diameter infrared field of view feeds a 64 megapixel (0.34' pixel) camera. Rapid deep IR (0.85-2.3um) imaging surveys will both select objects for follow-up with the VLT, and directly study a wide variety of astronomical topics.
References:
Atad-Ettedgui E. & Worswick S., 2002, Proc.
SPIE 4842-21.
Bezawada N., Ives D., & Woodhouse G., 2004,
Proc. SPIE 5499-03.
Craig S. et al., 2003, Proc. SPIE 4837, 178.
Dalton G. et al., 2004, Proc. SPIE 5492-34.
Emerson J., & Sutherland, W., 2003, Proc. SPIE
4836, 35.
Love P.J. et al., 2004, Proc. SPIE 5499-08

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...32W
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Wilson, T.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
The first edition of the European ALMA newsletter is now available at: http://www.eso.org/projects/alma/newsletter/

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...32G
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Germany, L.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
It is with a very heavy heart that I have had to bid farewell to La Silla after my four years there as an ESO fellow. I have really enjoyed the work, my colleagues, and meeting a substantial fraction of the European observational community during that time.

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...33I
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Izzo, C.; Kornweibel, N.; McKay, D.; Palsa, R.; Peron, M.; Taylor, M.
AA(DATA MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS DIVISION, ESO) AB(DATA MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS DIVISION, ESO) AC(DATA MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS DIVISION, ESO & RUTHERFORD APPLETON LABORATORY, DIDCOT, UK) AD(DATA MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS DIVISION, ESO) AE(DATA MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS DIVISION, ESO) AF(STARLINK, BRISTOL UNIVERSITY, UK)
Abstract:
In collaboration with instrument consortia, the Data Flow Systems Department (DFS) of the Data Management and Operation Division is implementing data reduction pipelines for the most commonly used VLT/VLTI instrument modes. These data reduction pipelines have the following three main purposes:

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...36C
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Chini, R.; Hoffmeister, V.; Kimeswenger, S.; Nielbock, M.; Nürnberger, D.; Schmidtobreick, L.; Sterzik M.
AA(ASTRONOMISCHES INSTITUT, RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM, GERMANY) AB(ASTRONOMISCHES INSTITUT, RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM, GERMANY) AC(INSTITUT FÜR ASTROPHYSIK, UNIVERSITÄT INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA) AD(ASTRONOMISCHES INSTITUT, RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM, GERMANY) AE(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AF(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AG(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY)
Abstract:
New results from ESO and IRAM suggest that massive stars form in the same way as their low-mass counterparts. In the Omega nebula, a young stellar object of more than ten solar masses is surrounded by a huge rotating disc with at least 100 solar masses of gas and dust. Part of the gas that falls onto the growing star is ejected perpendicularly to the disc, producing a bipolar jet and an hourglass shaped nebula.
References:
Bonnell I., Bate M., Zinnecker H. 1998, MNRAS,
298, 93
Calvet N. 1997, IAU Symposium 182, 417
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Hartmann L., Hewett R., Calvet N. 1994, ApJ,
426, 669
Muzerolle J., Hartmann L., Calvet N. 1998, AJ,
116, 455
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23
Wolfire M., Cassinelli J.P. 1987, ApJ, 319, 850
Yorke H., Sonnhalter C. 2002, ApJ, 569, 846

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117R..40C
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Christlieb, N.; Reimers, D.; Wisotzki. L.
AA(HAMBURGER STERNWARTE, UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG) AB(HAMBURGER STERNWARTE, UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG) AC(ASTROPHYSIKALISCHES INSTITUT POTSDAM)
Abstract:
We report on the exploitation of the stellar content of the Hamburg/ESO objective-prism survey (HES), which covers the total southern extragalactic sky down to B A* 17.5. Quantitative criteria have been developed for selecting interesting stars in the digital HES database, containing almost 5 million spectra. We give an overview of ongoing projects directed at finding extremely metal-poor stars, field-horizontal branch A-type stars, carbon stars, and white dwarfs. Highlights of these efforts are the discovery of more than 200 new extremely metal-poor ([Fe/H] < -3.0) stars, including the most metal-poor star known so far, HE0107-5240 ([Fe/H] = -5.3), and the discovery of many new magnetic DA and DB white dwarfs and other peculiar white dwarfs.
References:
Barklem P.S., Christlieb N., Beers T.C. et al. 2004,
A&A submitted
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AJ 103, 1987
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ApJ 612, L61
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409, 691
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(astro-ph/0308016)
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2001a, A&A 366, 898
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A&A 375, 366
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2002, Nature 419, 904
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586, L57
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ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117Q..47C
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Cacciari, C.; Bragaglia, A.; Carretta E.
AA(INAF, OSSERVATORIO ASTRONOMICO DI BOLOGNA, ITALY) AB(INAF, OSSERVATORIO ASTRONOMICO DI BOLOGNA, ITALY) AC(INAF, OSSERVATORIO ASTRONOMICO DI BOLOGNA, ITALY)
Abstract:
A spectroscopic survey with FLAMES of 137 red giant stars in the globular cluster NGC 2808 has revealed the likely presence of mass loss in a large number of stars among the brightest sample. Chemical inhomogeneities all along the 3-mag monitored interval suggest primordial pollution from a previous generation of intermediate mass stars.
References:
Bedin et al. 2000, A&A 363, 159
Cacciari, C., et al. 2003, A&A 413, 343
Carretta, E., et al. 2003, A&A 410, 143
Carretta, E., et al. 2004, ApJ 610, L25
Dupree, A. K. 1986, Ann. Rev. A&A 24, 377
Gratton, R., et al. 2004, Ann. Rev. A&A 42, 385
Kraft et al. 1997, AJ 113, 279
Pasquini, L., et al. 2002, ESO Messenger 110, 1
Renzini, A. & Fusi Pecci, F. 1988, Ann. Rev. A&A
26, 199

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...50P
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Pasquini, L.; Bonifacio, P.; Randich, S.; Galli, D.; Gratton, R. G.
AA(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY, GARCHING BEI MÜNCHEN, GERMANY) AB(ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI ASTROFISICA, OSSERVATORIO ASTRONOMICO DI TRIESTE, ITALY) AC(ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI ASTROFISICA, OSSERVATORIO ASTROFISICO DI ARCETRI, ITALY) AD(ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI ASTROFISICA, OSSERVATORIO ASTROFISICO DI ARCETRI, ITALY) AE(ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI ASTROFISICA, OSSERVATORIO ASTRONOMICO DI PADOVA, ITALY)
Abstract:
The first-ever measurement of the beryllium content in two stars of a globular cluster obtained with UVES at the VLT shows that beryllium can be used as a powerful cosmochronometer to date the oldest stars. In this way we estimate that the globular cluster NGC 6397 formed 0.2-0.3 Gyrs after the onset of star formation in the Milky Way. Assuming that this started shortly after the Big Bang (13.7 Gyrs ago according to WMAP), and the subsequent 'dark ages' which are thought to last about 0.2 Gyr, the NGC 6397 stars were therefore born ~13.2-13.3 Gyrs ago, a result which is consistent with the age of the cluster as independently derived from main sequence fitting. This consistency would indicate a remarkable agreement between stellar evolution, cosmic-ray nucleosynthesis and cosmology. The UVES spectra prove as well that the gas which formed the stars must have gone through CNO processing in the protocluster cloud before their formation.
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2003, ApJSS 148, 1
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ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...53K
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Kervella, P.; Bersier, D.; Nardetto, N.; Mourard, D.; Fouqué, P.; Coudé Du Foresto, V.
AA(OBSERVATOIRE DE PARIS, FRANCE) AB(SPACE TELESCOPE SCIENCE INSTITUTE, USA) AC(OBSERVATOIRE DE LA CÔTE D’AZUR, FRANCE) AD(OBSERVATOIRE DE LA CÔTE D’AZUR, FRANCE) AE(OBSERVATOIRE MIDI-PYRÉNÉES, FRANCE) AF(OBSERVATOIRE DE PARIS, FRANCE)
Abstract:
The very high spatial resolution provided by the VLTI makes it possible to measure directly the change in angular diameter of several southern Cepheids over their pulsation cycle. When combined with radial velocity measurements, this allowed us to measure precisely their distances in a quasi-geometrical way. This is essential information to calibrate the Cepheid's Period-Luminosity law, as well as the Period-Radius and Surface Brightness-Colour relations.
References:
Benedict, G. F., McArthur, B. E., Fredrick, L. W.,
et al. 2002, AJ, 123, 473
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Gieren, W. P., Fouqué, P. & Gómez, M. 1998, ApJ,
496, 17 (GFG98)
Kervella, P., Nardetto, N., Bersier, D., et al.
2004a, A&A, 416, 941
Kervella, P., Bersier, D., Mourard, D., et al.
2004b, A&A, 423, 327
Kervella, P., Bersier, D., Mourard, et al. 2004c,
A&A, in press
Kervella, P., Fouqué, P., Storm, J., et al. 2004d,
ApJ, 604, L113
Lanoix, P., Paturel, G. & Garnier, R. 1999,
MNRAS, 308, 969
Nardetto, N., Fokin, A., Mourard, D. et al. 2004,
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Storm, J., Carney, B. W., Gieren, W. P., et al. 2004,
A&A, 415, 531
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594

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...58P
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Padovani, P.; Allen, M. G.; Rosati, P.; Walton, N. A.
AA(ST-ECF, EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AB(CENTRE DE DONNÉS ASTRONOMIQUES DE STRASBOURG, FRANCE) AC(EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY) AD(INSTITUTE OF ASTRONOMY, CAMBRIDGE, UK)
Abstract:
The Virtual Observatory will revolutionise the way we do Astronomy, by allowing easy access to all astronomical data and by making handling and analysing datasets at various locations across the globe much simpler and faster. We report here on the status of the Virtual Observatory in Europe and on the first science result coming out of it, the discovery of ~30 supermassive black holes that had previously escaped detection behind masking dust clouds.
References:
Fiore, F., Brusa, M., Cocchia, F., et al. 2003,
A&A, 409, 79
Giavalisco, M., Ferguson, H. C., Koekemoer, A.
M., et al. 2004, ApJ, 600, L93
Jaffe, W., Meisenheimer, K., Röttgering, H. J. A.,
et al. 2004, Nature, 429, 47
Padovani, P., Allen, M. G., Rosati, P., & Walton,
N. A. 2004, A&A, 424, 545
Szokoly, G. P., Bergeron, J., Hasinger, G., et al.
2004, ApJS, in press [astro-ph/0312324]
Urry, C. M., & Padovani, P. 1995, PASP, 107, 803

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...61A
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Alloin, D.
AA(ESO/CHILE OFFICE FOR SCIENCE)
Abstract:
IN PARALLEL with the start of VLT operations in the last quarter of 1998, the development of ESO’s research facilities in Santiago has provided increased opportunities for students, from ESO member states in particular, to be trained in Chile under different ESO programmes.

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...62M
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Merloni, A.; Nayakshin, S.
AA(MPA-GARCHING) AB(MPA-GARCHING)
Abstract:
THE GOAL of the meeting was to draw some of the best astronomy researchers from every part of the world to showcase the most recent scientific successes of the Garching/Munich astronomy community, and to also allow the local researchers to learn from the rest of the world. The Conference was held at the Institute for Plasma Physics in Garching, Germany on June 21–25, 2004.

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...63B
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Boffin, H.; West, R.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
Abstract:
RECENT large-scale surveys have documented a widespread lack of interest in science and technology among Europe’s young people. This development is highly worrying as it may lead to a lack of qualified scientists and teachers and may ultimately have dramatic demographic consequences on this continent. Various reasons for this situation have been identified and it is generally acknowledged that teaching quality at the primary and secondary levels plays a crucial role in this context. Means and methods to remedy this undesirable situation are being looked into in many countries and the European Commission has issued a strong plea for the creation of new educational initiatives, in particular broad and general ones that are easily adaptable to national curricula.

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...65L
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Lorenzen, D. H.
AA(HAMBURG, GERMANY)
Abstract:
On April 19, 2004 Jürgen Stock passed away at the age of 80. Jürgen Stock was never on the payroll of ESO, but he had tremendous impact on the early years of the organisation. In 1951 Stock did his PhD in Hamburg - his supervisor was Otto Heckmann, who later became the first Director General of ESO. After some years in Cleveland - and with a one year interval at Boyden Observatory, South Africa - Stock was asked by Gerard Kuiper to do a site test in Chile. The University of Chicago looked for a mountain in the Santiago area to put up a 1.5-m-telescope in the southern hemisphere. Stock accepted and took off for Chile within days. The trip, that was supposed to last a few weeks, lasted more than three years. "As a result, the world's largest collection of astronomical instruments is now in Chile", recalled Jürgen Stock four decades later.

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...66M
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Madsen, C.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
SCIENCE reigned supreme in Stockholm for a period of four days in late August this year, as some 1800 scientists, administrators, policy-makers and media representatives from 68 countries convened at the EUROSCIENCE Open Forum, the first pan- European inter- and transdisciplinary science meeting on our Continent.

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...67.
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Carlos de Breuck; Pierre Kervella; Celine Peroux

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...68R
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Renzini, A.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
With VST and OmegaCam nearing completion it became urgent to define new procedures for the most efficient exploitation of these survey facilities, also in view of the VISTA infrared survey telescope expected to join the Paranal Observatory in 2007. Moreover, even before VISTA, the UKIDSS project (Warren 2002) will provide the ESO community with major infrared surveys that may be in need of an extensive optical counterpart.

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...69.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117Q..70.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Many ESO Conference and Workshop Proceedings are still available and may be ordered at the European Southern Observatory. Some of the more recent ones are listed below.

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117R..70.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Assignment: Within the ESO Education and Public Relations Department team, her/his main tasks will comprise:

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...71.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
The European Southern Observatory awards several postdoctoral fellowships to provide young scientists opportunities and facilities to enhance their research programmes. Its goal is to bring them into close contact with the instruments, activities, and people at one of the world’s foremost observatories. For more information about ESO’s astronomical research activities please consult http://www.eso.org/science/

ADS BibCode:
2004Msngr.117...72.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)